Car door construction



.lune 28, 3932. KA J. ToBlN E? AL 3,@65

CAR DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 13. 1927 5 SheeLS-,Sheei l .Esme 2S, i932.

K. J, TOBIN ET AL OAR DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. l5, 1927 @NWS -fM/E/v E5 KEMA/5 7%/ J WM5/w RMLL/HM W DHH/@Ow im@ 28, i932. K. J. TOBIN ET AL CONSTRUCTION' CAR DOOR 5 sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 13, 1927 lll..."

ya EN z/w VEN T055 KENNETH J. 75E/N f I y WML/QM W Uwe/QON June 28, 1932 K. J. TOBIN ET AL CAR DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 13,

17927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fflf-/O Patented June 28, 1932 T QFFQ KENNETH 3. TGBN AND WLLAItI W. DAR/ROW', OF CHICAGO, ILINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO CAMEL CCMANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATEON 0F LLINOIS CAR DOOR CONSTRUCTION Application filed October 13, 1927.

The present invention relates to car door construction,

More particularly the present invention relates to sliding doors suoli as are used in railway house cars. The present invention has been illustrated and will be described in connection with cars having` double sliding, doors for providingv a doorway of extraordinary width to be used when the car is to be used with lading of extra large dimensions Such cars are commonly termed automobile cars. It will be understood as the description proceeds, however, that the invention is not limited to the type of car known as automobile car, but is equally adaptable to other types ot car in which the door has a sliding movement in opening and closing.

The present invention contemplates a construction in which the door or doors may be moved upon rollers, but which at other times may rest upon a lat surface independently of said rollers.

A further object is to provide a sliding door having conveniently operable means for moving same upon rollers, which rollers are inoperative at times when it is not intended to communicate motion to said door.

A further object is to provide a sliding door which is capable not only of sliding movement longitudinally of the car for opening and closing the cooperating doorway, but is also capable of a small vertical movement, which door is provided with rollers operative when said door is in raised position but inoperative wlien said door is in lowered position, whereby said door may have secure trictional engagement with the relatively stationary parts of the car at any degree of door opening and whereby the danger of slamming is minimized.

A further object is to provide a sliding car door having` means whereby it may be lifted upon rollers out ot trictional engagement with the rigid parts of the car and whereby the door may be shifted laterally of the car a short distance, to increase the clearance over what is commonly provided in car construction between the car door and the car side.

A further object is to provide a car door Serial No. 225,873.

construction havingV the advantage that the car door may be conveniently lifted upon rollers when it is desired to slide said door and which in its sliding movement will automatically change its position laterally of the car, whereby to give improved clearance over present practice.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings Figure l is a view in side elevation of part of the side of a railway house car, an automobile car being chosen for illustration;

Figure Q, is a fragmentary view illustratinne,` on an enlarged scale part of the construction shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along; the plane indicated by the arrows 3 3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 4 4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a view on an enlarged scale showing a portion of the door lifting means associated with each of the doors shown in *iqures l, 2 and 3, the portion of the door lifting structure shown in Figure 5 being that represented at the lower left-hand portion of each of the two doors shown in said iiqures;

Figure 6 is a view complementary to Fin;- ure 5 and showing' a portion ot the door lifting means disposed at the lower right-hand edge ot each of the doors illustrated in Figures 1,2 and 3;

Figure 7 is a view similar in many respects to Figure 2, but showing' the doors in their lowered positions;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 8 8 of Figure l;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 9 9 of F igure l;

Figures l0 and 1l are views of a lever such as used in the operation of the door liftingstructure shown in Figure 5;

Figures 12 and 13 are views of a cam such as may be used in the operations of the door lifting structure shown in both Figures 5 and 6;

Figures 14, and 16 are views of brackets such as used at the lower right-hand portions of the doors shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, which brackets are shown in assembled relationship with said doors in Figure 6;

Figures 17, 18 and 19 are views of the bracket used at the lower left-hand edge of each of the doors, said bracket being shown in assembled relationship with a door in Figure 5; and A Figures 20 and 21 are views of a roller retainer, which roller retainer is shown in assembled relationship with the corresponding door in Figures 5 and 6.

As noted above, the embodiment of the presentinvention chosen for illustration is an automobile car having'two cooperating sliding doors, which, when both are' opened, provides a doorway of extraordinary width. The side of the car is indicated by the immeral 30. The side will ordinarily be provided with stakes and other membersV which are not illustrated but which must be cleared by the sliding door o r doors Yin their opening and closing movements. It is for the purpose of providing sufficient clearance between the sliding door or doors and such stakes and the like that the door is so disposed as to be movable laterally of lthe car, as will presently be described. y

The numeral 31 indicates one sliding .door which may be termed a main door, and the numeral 32 indicates a sliding door which may be termed an auxiliary door.V The auxiliary door is provided with the door amb 33 indicated in section in Figure 3), which door jamb is provided with the lipv 34 for receiving the front edge angle 35 of the main door 31. The rear edge of the auxiliary door 32 is provided with the rear edge weather strip 36 adapted to cooperate with a weather strip associated with the relatively stationary door jamb, which jamb is indicated as a whole by the numeral 37. The rear edge of the main door 31 is provided with the rearedge angle 38 adapted to cooperate with a weather strip associated with the relatively stationary door j amb 39. Means are provided for lifting` ea ch of the doors 31 and 32 vertically and to carry said doors upon rollers, whereby said doors may be readily moved longitudinally of the car. At such times as the doors are in their lowermost positions, they rest solidly upon relatively fixed portions of the car, whereby theA danger of accidental sliding movement is minimized, Y

When the auxiliary door 32 is. in closed position, the door jamb 33 thereof fill he in vsecure latching relationship with portions rigid with the side sill and side plate of the car` whereby said sliding door 32 will be rigidly held in its home position. The present invention also contemplates structure whereby the door jamb 33 when in its home position will securely tie the side sill and side plate together', holding` same against spreading. rl`he construction referred to is illustrated in Figure 4, but is not claimed in detail in this application. Said subject matter is incorporated in another application of the present applicants.

As shown in Figures l, 2, 5, and T, the doors 31 and 32 are provided adjacent to their front and rear edges with roller... each of which is indicated by the numeral 4t). Each of the rollers 40 is disposed within a roller retainer 41, which roller retainers are pivoted to the doors adjacent to the forward and rear edges thereof through the medium of brackets, to be referred to hereinafte". Means are contemplated for exerting a doi ward movement upon the free extremities of the pivoted roller retainers 41--4 sich action will have the effect oi" lifting the door-4 from frictional engagement with the rigid parts of the car, whereby said doors will be carried by said rollers 40-40. Said retainers, therefore, constitute levers ofthe first order.

rlhe brackets for carrying the pivoted roller retainers 41 41 are identical at the leftliand lower corners of each of the doors 3lv and 32, said brackets being indicated by the numeral 42. Likewise, the brackets for carrying the roller retainers 41-41 at the lower right-hand edge portions of the doors 3l and 32 are identical, said last mentioned brackets being` indicated by the numerals 43'-i3. The numeral 44 indicates a longitudinallj\,' extending rotatable rod extending from the bracket 42 to the bracket associated with each of the doors. Said rod 44 is journaled adjacent to each of its extremities in bearings 45 and 46 of the brackets 42 and 43, respectively. Each extremity of 'each rod 44 is provided with a squared portion for the reception of a cam member 47, best shown in Figures l2 and 13. Each cam 47 is provided with a camminasurface 48 adapted to engage the swinging extremity of the corresponding roller retainer 4l., whereby to exert a downward push upon the swinging extremity of the corresponding roller retainer and whereby to produce a reaction to raise the corresponding door 3l or 32. Each roller retainer 41-41 is provided with a bearin portion 49 for the reception of a pin 50, whereby the roller retainer 4l mar be pivotally supported upon the correspondingv bracket 42 or 43. Fach roller retainer 41 is recessed intermediate of its length. as indicated by the numeral 51, for the reception of a roller 40. Each roller retainer isiprovided with an aperture 52 for the reception of a pin disposed within the side walls of the retainer 41, whereby the roller 40 is rotatablyY mounted within the retainer 4l. The swinging extremity of each retainer 41 is provided with a lip 53 adapted to slide within a correlll-l spon'ding recess 54 in the corresponding bracket 42 or 43. By reason of the sliding engagement of the lip 53 and the recess 54,` swinging movement of the retainer 4l transversely of the car is prevented, though swinging movement in a vertical plane is permitted. Each bracket 42 and 43 is provided with a downwardly extending flange or lip {i4-ri adapted to limit the inward swing of the bottom portion of the corresponding door. ln order to communicate rotary movement to the rotatable rod 44, a lever 55 is provided swingingly mounted upon each or" the brackets 42. Said levers 5.5-55 are provided with the hand grips 56 and with the abutment portions 57-57, which abutment portions 57- 57 are adapted to engage the upper surfaces 53 of the cams 47. it will be clear without detailed explanation that the downward swinging movement ot either ot the hand levers 55 will result in a clockwise movement ot the corresponding roller retainer 4l associated with the bracket 42 (see Figure 5), which movement will be accompanied by a movement of rotation of the rod 44, which will communicate a similar clockwise movement to the roller retainer 4l associated with the bracket 43 (see Figure Clockwise movements of the two roller retainers 4`l-4'l associated with the two brackets 42 and 43 will, of course, communicate a lifting movement to the corresponding door, whereby to lift said door from the position shown in Figure 7 to the position shown in Figure 2.

Each ot the brackets 42 and 43 associated with each of the doors 3l and 32 is preferably disposed inwardly of the outer sheathing of the corresponding door, and for this purpose the lower extremity of each of the doors 3l and 32 may be swedged outwardly, as indicated by the numeral 59 (see Figures 3 and 4). Each bracket 42 is provided with a stud 60 projecting through a corresponding hole in the outer sheathing of the door and the corresponding hand lever 55 is carried at the outer extremity of said stud 60. The swedged out portion 59 of the outer sheathing et the door is slotted, as indicated by the numeral 6l, to permit access of the hand lever 55 to the corresponding cam member 47. The strap 62 may be provided on the outer wall of each of the doors for guiding the corresponding lever' 55 in its swinging movements.

The rollers 40*40 are adapted to engage the track 63, which is supported from the side sill of the car by aplurality ofbraekets 64 (see Figure 4). When the doors are in their lowered positions, they rest tlatwise upon the track 63. Such tlatwise engagement of the doors with the track 63 has the result that the danger of accidental sliding of the doors is minimized regardless ot the extent of door opening.

As mentioned above, the present invention contemplates a structure in which each door is adapted to have a movement laterally of the car when said door is moved from its closed position longitudinally ot the car to an open position. For the purpose of communicating the lateral movement referred to, guide means of novel contormation are provided adjacent to the top and bot-tom of each door. Secured to the side plate 65 (Figure 4) is the angle member 66, which provides the downwardly extending guide flange 67. Disposed upon the outside of each door adjacent to the top thereof are brackets 68 having portions overlying the guide flange 67. Carried by each door inside of the flange 67 are the abutments 69 (see Figures 4 and 9). Each abutment 69 is spaced from the corresponding portion of the bracket 68 a distance suli'icient to more or less closely receive the guide flange 67. Said guide flange 67 is provided with indentures 70 (see Figures 4 and 9), which indentures are smooth curves bent inwardly of the plane of the remainder of the guide flange 67. It will be clear that as the corresponding door is moved longitudinally of the car, the upper portion of the door will be moved laterally. Carried by a rigid part of the car are a pair of abutments 7l7l adapted to engage the inner forward portions of the doors and limit lat-- eral movement of the corresponding door inwardly of the car. Said abutments 71-71, it will be understood, are eliective only when the doors are in or near closed position.

Each of the lips 54-A of the brackets 42 and 43 is adapted Vto overlie the outer edge ot the track 63. When the door is in its innermost position laterally oi the car, that is, when the door is in closed position, said lips 54-A will engage the outer edge of the track 63 more or less closely. The track member 63 carries a vertically disposed flange, and carried on the inner wall of said flange 63 at spaced regions are the abutmentsv 2 adapted to engage outwardly swedged indentures 73 in the corresponding door when said door is in closed position. By reason of the engagement of the indentures 73 with the abutments 72, the lower portions of the doors will be held against shaking when said doors are in closed position. ln order to positively move the lower portions ot the doors outwardly, brackets 74-74 are provided (Figures l and 8), which brackets are carried upon rigid portions of the car body. Figure 8 shows a portion ot the door32, the closed position ot said door being shown in full lines and the open position ot said door being shown in broken lines. It will be noted that as the door 32 is swung to the lett, that is-in an opening movement. the correspondbracket 74 will engage the inner side oi said door at the lower portion of said door. whereby to positively move same outwardly. At this time the indentures 73 will be out oit lo position. Then it is desired to move said doors, it is a simple matter to exert adownward force upon the outer extremities of the hand levers and at the same time to coinmunicate a pulling movement to the doois, whereby the doors will be given a lifting movement and will be carried upon the rollers l0- 40 and whereby the doors will be given a sliding movement to open saine. Not only will the above described operation of the hand 2 levers 5.5#55 accomplish the movements upwardly and longitudinally ot the car, but by reason of the guiding arrangement between the guide flange 67 and the cooperating parts att-ached to the door, the upper portion of the corresponding door will be moved laterally, whereby to give all the clearance necessary in practice for sliding movement of the door. Moreover, the lower portion of the door will. be moved outwardly by reason of the engage- 3" ment of the inner wall or the lower portion of the door with the corresponding abutment 74.

The present invention presents the 'further advantage that it affords an opportunity to use a very eflicient latchiiig arrangement,

u which will be described and claimed in a copending application, which latching arrangement ielies upon the lifting and lowering ot the door or door jamb whereby to cooperatewith abutment means associated with the side sill or the'side plate, or preferably both of said members.

Though a preferred embodiment ot the present invention has been described in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled V'in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is- ,Y l. In combination, in a car, a horizontally -slidable door, a track member, said door having a portion adapted to lie iiatwise upon a fixed part of said car to impart the weight of said door thereto, rollers disposed adjacent to a horizontal edge and to the two vertical edges of said door engaging said track member, retainers for said rollers, said retainers being pivoted to said door and comprising` levers of thetirst order, and operating means for the swinging extremities of said levers,

said edge of said door being capable ot movement transversely of said car whereby said door in its sliding movement may have clearance relative to the side of said car, and incoh- 35 anism for guiding said door in said movement transversely of said car toward and away trom said side ot said car.

2. In combination, in a car, a horizontally slidable door, a track ineinbei', said door having a portion adapted to lie liatwise upon a lixed part ot said car to impart the weight of said door thereto, rollers disposed adjacent to a horizontal edge and to the two vertical edges or" said door, said rollers engaging said track member, retainers for said rollers, said retainers being pivoted to said door and comprising levers of the first order, and operating means tor the swinging extremities o'l said levers, and means connecting said operating means to cause said operating means to operate in unison, said edge et said door being capable ot movementti'aiis.'eiscly of said car whereby said door in its sliding iaovcment may have clearance relative to the side of said cai', and mechanism Jfor gui( ing said door in said movement transversely oi" said car toward and away from said side of said car.

3. In combination, in a car, a sliding door, a track member, said door having a portion adapted to lie flatwise upon a fixed part ot said car to impart the weight ot said door thereto, rollers disposed upon said track member adjacent to the forward and rear edges of said door, said rollers engaging said track member, retainers for said rollers pivoted to said doors and comprising levers ot the lirst order, and means lor exerting a downward force upon the swinging extremities of said levers, a handle for operating said means, said handle having a path of movenient parallel with said door.

4r. ln combination, in a car, a sliding door, a track member, said door having a portion adapted to lie flat-wise upon a lit-:ed part of said car to impart the weight ot said door thereto, a pair of unit assemblies carried by said door, each of said unit assemblies comprising a roller disposed upon said track member, a retainer for said roller pivoted to its corresponding unit assembly, means 'for exerting a downward torce upon the swinging extremities of said retainers for lifting said door upon said rollers, means connecting said iirst mentioned means together whereby said first mentioned means operate in unison, and an operating member for said first mentioned means mounted to swing in a plano parallel with said door.

5. In combination, in a car, a sliding door, a track member. said door having a portion adapted to lie iiatwise upon a fixed part of said car to impart the weight of said door thereto, a pair of unit assemblies mounted upon said door, each of said assemblies comprising a bracket, a roller retainer pivotally supported by said bracket, and a roller engaging said track member and carried by said retainer, said retainer and said b 1acket having cooperating abutting portions for conist straining said retainer to movement in a single plane relative to said door.

6. In combination, in a car, a sliding door, a track member, said door having a portion adapted to lie fiatwise upon a fixed part of said car to impart the weight of said door thereto, a pair ot unit assemblies mounted upon said door, each of said assemblies comprising a bracket, a roller retainer pivotally supported by said bracket, and a roller engaging said track member and carried by said retainer, said retainer and said bracket having cooperating' abutting portions :for constraining said retainer to movement in a single plane relative to said door, said retaincr comprising a lever of the first order, and a member positioned to exert a downward force upon the swinging extremity of said lever, and an operating member movable in a plane parallel with said door for exerting torce upon said member.

7. In combination, a door, a track member for supporting said door, said door being biased by gravity into engagement with said track member, rollers engaging said track member, levers carried by said rollers and swung about the axes of said rollers, extremities of said levers being disposed in position to exert a lifting force to said door, and means for exertingpressure upon the other extremities of said levers whereby to swing same about said rollers as tulcrnms for lifting said door, said means including an operating member having a path of movement parallel with said door, whereby in a single movement a door lifting and a door opening movement may be communicated to said door.

8. In combination, a track member, a door, rollers, lever members pivoted to said door for carrying said rollers, means for exerting` force upon said lever members to liit said door upon said rollers, guide means cooperatively associated with the top and bottom edges of said doors for guiding' said door laterally of said car away from said car as said door is moved longitudinally of said car in the opening movement of said door.

9. In combination, a track member, a door, rollers, lever members pivoted to said door for carrying said rollers, means for exerting force upon said lever members to lift said door upon said rollers, guide means cooperatively associated with the top and bottom edges of said doors for guiding said door laterally of said car away from said car as said door is moved longitudinally of said car, said guide means including members for holding said door against lateral shake regardless of the extent of door opening.

l0. In combination, a door, a track member for supporting said door, said door being biased by gravity into engagement with said track member, rollers engaging said track member, levers for carrying said rollers, said levers being of the lirst order, means for exerting pressure upon said levers whereby to swing same about said rollers as fulcrums for lifting said door, a rotatable member having its axis parallel with said door for simultaneously operating said means, and an operating member for said rotatable member, said operating member having a path of movement parallel with said door whereby in a single movement a door lifting and a door opening movement may be communicated to said door.

ll. In a car, a sliding door, a track member, said door having a portion adapted to Vlie flatwise upon a fixed part of said car to impart the weight of said door thereto, a pair of brackets mounted upon said door, a roller retainer pivotally supported by each of said brackets, and a roller within each of said roller retainers engaging said track member, each of said brackets and its corresponding retainer having cooperating abutting portions or constraining said retainer to movement in a single plane relative to said door.

l2. In combination, in a car, a door, a track member, said door having a portion adapted to lie liatwise upon a fixed part of said car to impart the weight of said door thereto, rollers disposed adjacent to an edge of said door and engaging said track member, levers for carrying said rollers, said levers being swung about the axes of said rollers and disposed in position to exert a lifting' force to said door at extremities of said levers, means for exerting pressure upon the other extremities of said levers whereby to swing same about said rollers as fulcrums for lifting the door, said edge of said door being capable of movement transversely of said car whereby said door in its sliding` movement may have clearance relative to the side of said car, and mechanism for guiding said door in said movement transversely of said car toward and away from said side oit' said car.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 3rd day of October, 1927.

KENNETH J. TOBIN.

WILLIAM W. DARROW. 

